George Canning was born into an Anglo-Irish family in London in 1770. His father was a wayward gentleman, who eventually abandoned the family, and his mother, Mary Ann Costello, was an actress. His guardian, Stratford Canning would raise him. He studied at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. After this, he settled on a career in politics.

He wrote to Pitt the Younger, asking for help in developing his career. Pitt admired the young man’s panache and soon found Canning a seat. In 1796, Canning was promoted to the Foreign Office as an Under-Secretary to Grenville. These would be critical years for British foreign policy, with Britain at war, allied to complicated coalitions of European powers, requiring delicate diplomacy. Canning also kept a keen eye on party politics, contributing articles to the fiercely partisan Anti-Jacobin newspaper.

In 1799, Canning was appointed to the Board of Control for India, and in March 1800 he was appointed Joint Paymaster General. He was increasingly seen, and began to see himself, as Pitt’s heir. When Pitt resigned in 1801, Canning would make trouble for Addington, though not really with Pitt’s approval. Consequently, when Pitt became Prime Minister again, he did not give Canning a Cabinet post, instead asking him to be Treasurer of the Navy. Canning was very disappointed.

More disappointment followed in 1806, when Pitt died, leaving Canning devastated. He was also frozen out of Grenville’s government. Canning waited in opposition, with his fellow Pittites.

Canning became Foreign Secretary in Portland’s government in 1807. He was a hawkish Cabinet minister, dominating proceedings and determined to continue the conflict against the French. When there were fears that Denmark would join the war on France’s side, Canning insisted that the Royal Navy be sent to Copenhagen to seize the Danish fleet, which they did, having heavily bombarded the city. Canning also supported a direct military intervention in Portugal and another against Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, with the latter leading only to an inglorious retreat.

Frustrated with these events, Canning wrote to Portland, listing his complaints, above all that the powerful Lord Castlereagh be removed from direction of the war. The controversy escalated when Castlereagh learned of Canning’s demands, and he demanded satisfaction. The two men fought a duel on Putney Heath, and Canning was slightly wounded, with both men criticised and (briefly) shunned when Perceval’s government was formed a few weeks later. Castlereagh later joined the government as Foreign Secretary, but Canning, who made leadership of the Commons a condition of joining the Cabinet, was left outside.

Canning became ambassador to Lisbon in 1814, but the position was a sideshow (during these years the Portuguese court was located in their Brazilian colony), as Castlereagh redrew the map of Europe in distant Vienna. Eventually, Canning accepted the post of President of the Board of Control of India in 1816. Finally, back in the Cabinet Room, Canning worked well, but he resigned over the issue of George IV’s attempt to divorce Queen Caroline.

In 1822, Canning accepted the position of governor-general for India and prepared to leave Britain. But, in August 1822, Castlereagh committed suicide, and Canning was promoted to Foreign Secretary in his place.

It was in the position of Foreign Secretary, that Canning made his greatest contributions to public service. He was a powerful and effective Foreign Secretary. He promoted ‘liberal’ values, arguing that the Great Powers of Europe should not intervene in the affairs of smaller states when it did not affect them. He signed a new treaty with the Dutch, establishing borders in the East Indies that last to this day. Another success came in 1826, when his prompt intervention drove out a Spanish backed usurper in Portugal. A young Lord Palmerston, who was a junior minister, would learn much from Canning, later emulating and exceeding his approach when he became Foreign Secretary.

Canning also supported the independence of the Spanish colonies in Latin America. The new states were recognised by Britain and commercial treaties were negotiated during Canning’s tenure. He told Parliament, with more than a little rhetorical flourish, that “I called the New World into existence to redress the balance of the Old.”

Canning was a clever man, with a quick wit, and a remarkably far-sighted understanding of foreign policy. He was a great and forceful speaker. However, he was arrogant and could be cruel and needlessly alienated potential allies. He was often unwilling to compromise on policy or position, leaving him worse off.

In January 1827, Canning, who was in deteriorating health, caught a chill whilst attending the funeral of the Duke of York. Shortly afterwards, Lord Liverpool resigned, and George IV asked Canning to be Prime Minister, which he accepted on 10 April 1827.

Canning probably should have declined. Immediately, upon his appointment, dozens of more conservative Tory ministers resigned over Canning’s support for Catholic emancipation. In response, Canning sought to appoint Whigs to his government, finally appointing a Cabinet on 16 July. But Canning’s health had not recovered from the chill he had caught in January, and on 8 August he died.

Canning was Prime Minister for 119 days (the shortest until 2022) and was too brief to make any contribution to the office or to wider government policy. He is remembered for his work as Foreign Secretary.

Canning married Joan Scott in 1800. They had four children.